Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-12-14

OF the Congress heretofore to provide against
the dangers Which i %as quite evident the
produce, caused y condition Of financial dis
tress and apprehension since your last I'd
authority and expedients within executive CON
trols and these appear now to be exhausted
II disaster results from the continued inaction
of Congress, The responsibility must rest whore
Though the situation thus far considered is
fraught with danger which should be fully
realized, and though it presents features OF
wrong 10 the people as well us peril to the
country, lis but result growing out of . per-
fectly palpable and apparent cause, constantly
reproducing the same alarming circumstances
"a congested National treasury and Q depleted
monetary condition in the business OF the coun-
try. 1t need hardly be stated that while the
present situation demands q remedy, we can
future by the removal OF its cause. p ~ =
Our scheme OF taxation, by means Of which
this needlessfsurplus is taken from the people
tariff or duty .evied upon importations from
abroad, and internal-revenue taxes levied upon
the consumption OF tobacco and spirltuous and
the things subje. ted to internalrevenue taxa
ton are, strictly speaking, necessaries; there
appears to be no just complaint OF this taxation
seems to be nothing SO well able to bear the
burden without hardship to any portion OF the
people.
But our present tariff laws-the vicious in
equitable and Illogical source OF unnecessary
marlborough to BIO at once revised and amend
ed: These laws, as their primary and plain
effect, raise the price to consumers OF I'LL arti-
cles imported and subject to duty, by pre-
clsdy the sum paid for such duties. Thus
the amount OF the duty measures the tax paid
by those who purchase for use these imported
svse' Many 4ase q Of sse IN
our own country, and tho duties now levied up
on foreign goods and products are called pro-
they render it possible for those Of our people
who are manufacturers to make these taxed
articles and" them for price equal to
have paid customs duty. So it happens
that while comparatively few use
the imported articles, millions of our
aa
same kind made In this country, and pay there
for nearly or quite the same enhanced price
which the duty adds to the imported articles;
thereon INTO the public treasury, but the great
majority OF our citizens, who buy domestic
articles OF the same class. pay sum ut
home manufacturer. This reference to the op-
GRAFTON OF our tariff laws Is not made by way
OF instruction. but IN order that we may be con-
impose burden upon those who consume do
nestle products us well as those who consume
imported articles, and thus create a tax upon
It is not proposed to entirely relieve the
country OF this taxation. It must be extern
slvely continued as the source OF the Govern
our sra t5e ntepests o. sDo OF
engaged In Manufacture should be care.
fully considered. as well as the preserva-
ton Of our manufacturers 1t may be called
protection, or by, any other name, but
relief from the hardships and dangers Of our
present tariff laws should be devised with
espec al preoaution against imperiling the ex-
istence of our manufacturing interests. But
this existence should not mean o condi-
ton which, without regard to the pub
lib welfare or national exigency, must al
ways insure the real .zatlon OF immense profits
instead Of moderately pronta ole returns. AS he
volume and diversity of our National activities
increase, new recruits are added to those who
they conceive the p esent system of tariff
taxation directly affords them. ~ So Stub
bornly have all efforts toreform tho present
citizens thus engaged, that they can hardly
complain of the susp G on, entertained to GER
talu extent, that there exists IN organized COM
bination all along the line to maintain their adj
vantage.
We are in the midst. Of centennial oelebra-
lions and with becoming pride we rejoice in
aod a9a in
eped BY esnturys Ns ss%asSS es ssysi
nstv seDe aa vb; ssm nr made
laid upon every consumer in the land for the
benefit OF our manufacturers, quite beyond d
reasonable demand for governmental regard,
1t suits the purposes OF advocacy to call our
manufactures infant Industries, still needing
The highest and greatest degree OF favor and
fostering care that can be wrung from Federal
legislation. :
It is also said that the increase in the price
Of domestic manufactures resulting from
the present tariff is necessary in order that
men employed in manufactures than are
paid for what is called the pauper labor
OF Europe. All will acknowledge the force
welfare and liberal compensation OF
our laboring people. Our labor is honorable in
the eyes OF every American citizen, and as it
progress, it. is entitled, without afectation or
hypocrisy. to the utmost regard. The standard
of our laborers' life should not be measured by
are entitled to their i1l share Of ali lou our ad.
By the last census it is made to appear that
Of the 81 Of our at engaged in
In agriculture 4,O74,2>8 in professional and per-
sonal service (s934,816 Of whom are domestic
servants and laborersl while 1910, 256 are en-
are classed as employed IN manufacturing and
mining
For present purposes, however, the last num-
Without attempting to enumerate all, it will
be conceded that there should be deducted
from those which it includes 375, 14a carpenters
sea1nstresses, 7S6 blacksmiths, 1s3 756 tailors
and addresses, 1872 473 masons, &C., A1 butchers,
41,3O9 bakers, 2,06' plasterers, and 1881 engag-
ed IN manufacturing agricultural implements,
amounting in the aggregate to 1874 0s3, leaving
2IG23,Oe9 persons employed in such manu-
featuring industries rs are claimed to
be benefited by o high tariff. To these
the appeal is made to save their EN-.
ployment and maintain their wages by
resisting change. There should be. no dis
post. on to answer such suggestions by the ALE
cation that they are in minority among those
who labor, and therefore should forego an ad-
vantage, in the interest of low prices for the
majority; their compensation, as it may be af-
all times be scrupuiously kept in view;
and yet with slight reflection they will not over
look the fact that they are consumers with the
rest; that they, too, have their own wants and
those OF their families to supply from their
earnings, and that the price OF the necessaries
OF life, rs well as the amount OF their wages,
will regulate the measure OF their welfare and
comfort. =
But the reduction of taxation demanded
should be SO measured as not to necessitate or
justify either the loss of employment by the
nottingham nor the lessening of his wages; and
the profits still remaining to the manufacturer
a1ter a necessary REIMBURSEMENT, should fur
nlsh no excuse for the sacrifice of the
interests OF his employees either In their oppcr-
tunlty to work or In the diminution of their
compensation. Nor can the worker In manu-
1actures fail to understand that while high
tarln Is claimed to be necessary to allow the
payment OF remunerative WAGES, IT certainly
results IN very large increase In the price
OF nearly all sorts Of u manufactures,
the use OF himself and his family. He receives
at the desk his 6fnn1ovar Ops M t,ar-